Tuning the bandsaw book

Next to the table saw, the band saw is one of the most important machines in most woodshops. Outfitted with an appropriate blade, it can chew through thick stock to roughout parts, finesaw joinery like tenons and dovetails, and even do detailed scrollwork. Bandsaw tuneup whenever i look at my tablesaw and bandsaw, i think of that old timex commercial that went, takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Ive owned an 18 bandsaw for a couple of years now and have a 12 woodslicer blade that cuts beautifully. Get good advice on setting up your bandsaw and be sure to read the best selling bandsaw book of all time mark duginkses complete guide to band saws. People think of the band saw as a nobrainerjust turn it on and start cutting, yes you can do that, but a well tuned saw with a good blade you have a precision instrument and you can do what you never dreamed of. I searched the web and there is a 60 minute video as well. Unfortunately, most owners manuals provided by tool manufacturers are difficult to understand, and the drawings and photos are unclear. In this book, professional woodworker lonnie bird gives all the information bandsaw owners wished came in the owners manual plus much more what to look for when buying a bandsaw and how to tune it up for. Five tips for better bandsawing n my first year of design school in the early 1970s, i remember the shop manager telling me that the bandsaw was the most useful piece of equipment in a woodshop. This book also has some project ideas included between the covers. It makes comparisons between the different types of saws available and it also recommends the.

Bandsaw tuneup advice on maintaining, repairing, and upgrading a 1990sera bandsaw to improve adjustability and precision. Apr 17, 2020 the bandsaws throat capacity is the size distance between the top blade guides and the saw table. Lonnie bird has become a revered and quoted bandsaw evangelist with this wellwritten, beautifully illustrated work. Whether you plan on cutting veneer, resawing lumber, or cutting curves, the quality of the cut will improve if your bandsaw is properly tuned. Organized for easy access, the book provides indepth, practical information on setup, tuning, choosing blades, and. The clean sweep helps keep your wheels free from debris which shorten their life and effect blade tracking. Includes information on the anatomy of a bandsaw, choosing the right one for you, how to select the correct blades for your saw and applications, and how to maintain it to keep it running for years to come. Birds guidelines for tuning up the saw, and replacing a few worn out parts, my old gray ghost is once again singing. I have learned that a bandsaw is a quite complicated tool. Well, the book suggests i replace the guide blocks with selfmade hardwood blocks while using small 116 or 18 and such blades. Tuning the bs1400 ridgid forum plumbing, woodworking and. If its a fixed table, there are probably adjustment screws. On a small consumergrade bandsaw, i tension a 12in.

The bandsaw book is a comprehensive, completely uptodate guide to one of the most versatile tools in a woodshop. I can say without a doubt that this is the best way to set up a bandsaw. Bought my first bandsaw, a delta 28276, a couple weeks ago. Adjust the tightnesstension according to the instructions that came with the blade till the fluttering stops and adjust the slant on the top wheel so that the blade rides in the center or at least so it isnt rubbing on anything front or back. In a welltuned saw, both wheels and their crowns are coplanar in line with each other. Carter bandsaw tuning dvd i liked the service, and the dvd. Although deceptively simple a steel blade rotating around two rubberclad wheels, the bandsaw does its best work when its tuned properly. That said, the homemade blade guides, and the ones from ted can take much wider blades than the ones from my 14 bandsaw or the ones. The bandsaw book demystifies buying, adjustment and use with excellent illustrations and helpful text. The previous owner only used it a few times before the bottom tire broke. The bandsaw is one of the most widely used woodworking tools, found in 3 out 4 home and professional workshops.

The band saw machine is an important tool for woodworkers. Snagged it new in a box from a guy on craigs list without much research because it was really cheap and was then horrified to read about all the problems people have had with these. With a magnetic base, swiveling head, and articulating arm, a magnetic shop light is a fast fix that is sure to shine light exactly where its needed for linesplitting, or linesaving, accuracy. The costs and inaccessibility of the most popular species of wood are on the rise so it is important to get the most from each piece of stock you cut. Band saw blade tension align guide blocks woodworking. Few things are more satisfying than resawing thin sheets of veneer out of a large piece of wood. Install the blade and apply just enough tension to keep the blade securely on the wheels. In addition to the block itself, the riser block kit includes a longer guide post, bolts. You can use it to saw straight or curved parts, create joinery, cut turning blanks from green logs, resaw planks into book matched parts and veneers, and much more.

This lesson introduces three common models of bandsaw machines and describes their use. New complete guide to band saws mark duginske books. The jet tools 708718r provides a guide for ripping stock up to 12 inches. Resawing straight with a bandsaw how to achieve straight cuts when resawing thin veneers out of large stock. Without this book i would probably not be using my saw. This is a handy reference as well as a thorough primer on bandsaws.

In his book, band saw handbook, mark duginske tells owners how to make their bandsaws run more coolly, quietly and efficiently by slightly rounding the corners of their bandsaw blades. Jet 708718r band saw rip fence with resaw guide band saw. Using this book will require much careful study, but the study will pay off in. I have found myself trying to figure out ways to make cuts on the table saw that i should have been doing on the bandsaw, because i could not get good results with the bandsaw. Last, bring the thrust bearing in the rear to within 1 32 in. The dvd took up alot of time, refering to their products. The definitive guide to bandsaw selection, tuning, technique, and projects. The original title of this topic was venting about my bandsaw i need help. I did a forum search on bandsaw tuning and everything pointed to mark duginskes book mastering your bandsaw. But even as dependable as that old timex was, it would still lose a few seconds over time and would have to be reset. Use the tracking adjustment while turning the wheel by hand to line up the deepest part of the gullet with the center of the top wheel. Align the blade install the blade and apply just enough tension to keep the blade securely on the wheels.

It will help you maintain and tune your bandsaw, which is just as important as cutting wood. For my tests, i used a blade tension meter that clamps to the blade and gives an accurate reading on a. Then, when aligning the hardwood blocks, completely surround the blade front to back. Tuning blades this way allows tighter turns while scrolling on both bandsaws and scrollsaws. Some woodworkers may question whether maximum blade tension will in any way damage the saw. You may find that once its adjusted properly you dont have to spend any additional money. Rikon bandsaws come with a wellsupported fiveyear manufacturers warranty which makes rikon top of class among other bandsaw brands. Other smaller saws come with a limited throat capacity of 4 to 5 inches. A riser block is not much more than a castiron block that sits on the frame between the upper and lower wheel, but by increasing a standard 14 bandsaws resaw capacity from 6 to 12, this simple spacer can take your cutting repertoire to a new level. If its a tilting table, dont trust the builtin angle gauge.

Bandsaw operations historic naval ships association. There is information on selecting a blade for the cut. It can rip, resaw, crosscut, and execute all kinds of curved work, including cabriole legs, circles, arcs, and serpentine drawer fronts. Also covered are all bandsaw techniques from basic to advanced. Its pricey, but it makes a huge difference for smooth cuts. The smallest were the ones from my 14 bandsaw, so that one is a winner there. With practice, you will be able to adjust the guides by eye, looking for the smallest crack of light be tween the blade and the guide blocks.

How to tune your bandsaw popular woodworking magazine. The blade to use for resawing is the widest one that your saw can handle. Outfitted with an appropriate blade, it can chew through thick stock to roughout parts, finesaw joinery like tenons and dovetails, and even do. For anyone who needs to learn about their bandsaw or just wants to expand their knowledge this is a great book.

How to set your band saw blade tension, blade tracking, and guide blocks. It is the responsibility of the user to understand basic woodworking machinery settings and procedures and to properly maintain the equipment in accordance with the standards provided by the manufacturer. Features positive locking slides along a 2812inch rail with lowfriction plastic contact points. From its typical usage for fair curves, straight cuts, scrollwork, ripping and resawing, all the way to mortise and tenon and dovetail joinery, youll be amazed at how much you can get from one simple machine. This subcourse describes bandsaw operations and maintenance. The bandsaw may be the most versatile player in the woodshop.

And if youre still unsure about how to tune up a bandsaw after watching the 30minute bandsaw rehab video below, there are still a couple of open spots in alexs upcoming 3d cutting board class. Tuning the band saw is a necessary evil if perfection of cut, smoothness of materials, and pride in workmanship are the desired endresult of any work effort. A bandsaws upper blade guard often casts a shadow on your work, even in shops with ample ambient lighting. So far, this book has been a wealth of information. The two pronged gear puller wasnt ideal with the five spoked wheel. Aug 21, 2018 a sharp blade isnt the only answer to bandsaw drift.

Fine tune your band saw by adding a kreg fence or a quick. Organized for easy access, the book provides indepth, practical information on setup, tuning, choosing blades, and operation. Reduce the amount of cuttings lost by installing a jet tools rip fence assembly with resaw for your 14inch band saw. In this video, youll learn how to properly set up and fine tune your bandsaw for perfect rip, resaw, and curved cuts, every time. Resawing on the bandsaw requires a welltuned bandsaw equipped with the right blade.

Way more information than you ever wanted on how to fell a tree. The bandsaw book by lonnie bird 1999, paperback for sale. I figured at the very least, i could reuse the motor for something else, but then i started playing around with it. Much careful study of this book has shown me that i can do quite excellent work with my small bandsaw. Like many cheap bandsaws, this bandsaw is a direct drive bandsaw. The video has endless nuggets of information about bandsaws and how to tune them up for peak performance. I feel it is well written and provided clear information on the topics without being wordy. If you read the thread, you will find a goldmine of tips for fixing and tuning a bandsaw and how i got mine working. The crown exerts a pulling force, moving the blade to the top of the wheel. If you have a bandsaw this is the book you need to help you know what you can do with it and how.

With a 1750 rpm motor directly driving a 7 12 wheel, this makes for a blade speed that is much faster than ideal. In this episode, i cover the basic setup and tuneup of one of the coolest tools in the shop. Its said that a bandsaw is a simple machine, but its a big scary thing if youve never used one. Normal user alignment, adjustment, tuning and machine settings are not covered by this warranty. Comprehensive, uptodate guide with practical information on set up, tuning, choosing blades, and both basic and advanced techniques. Includes information on the anatomy of a bandsaw, choosing the right one for you, how to select the correct blades for your saw and applications, and how to. Whilst based on the us market, european machines are not ignored and the content is generic to all makes.

In this video michael fortune shows you two fixes to make your saw run true. This struck me as a dubious statement, given that we were standing in a workshop filled with stateof the art european woodworking equipment. My suggestion would be to check out a book like the bandsaw handbook and spend some time tuning your bandsaw up. I was a complete newb and got a lot from both books, in both reading covertocover and going back as references. Bandsawblade tension scales are notoriously inaccurate. My homemade blade guides were slightly bigger than the ones from. In this book, professional woodworker lonnie bird gives all the information bandsaw owners wished came in the owners manual plus much more what to look for when buying a bandsaw and how to tune it up for optimal performance. Question i did a forum search on bandsaw tuning and everything pointed to mark duginskes book mastering your bandsaw. In order for you to create beautiful bookmatched cuts, you would need a minimum capacity of 8 inches or more. But direct drive eliminates pulleys and belts, so i assume its done for cost savings. Mark duginskes original band saw book bandsaw handbook was one of the best bandsaw books of all time.

Such a small throat is not sufficient for resawing purposes. Jul 06, 2017 i have since become friendly with alex and asked him if hed be willing to come out to my shop to film his setup method. I read about 23 the book by the time my bandsaw arrived. This bearing is the only part that requires replacing, when it becomes stiff or scarred. Michael fortune tackles plenty of tips despite the fact that its an incredibly versatile shop tool, a woodworking bandsaw and its proper. Aside from what you list, i can add that having an accurate square is vital. A complete and consise guide that covers all facets of bandsaw features and the advantage of having a bandsaw. Learn how truly versatile the bandsaw can be with the newest volume from renowned band saw expert mark duginske. Jan 15, 2017 in this video i show you how to tune a bandsaw. In the bandsaw book, bird gives you all the information you may have wished came with the owners manual plus a lot more, like what to look for when buying a bandsaw and how to tune it up for optimal performance.